Note the Quotes

"If it were possible for me to alter any part of His plan, I could only spoil it."  John Newton  
Jer. 29:11/Isaiah 55: 8-9

This quote reminded me of how often I have everything written out in my head as to how I want or expect things to happen. I anticipate reactions or plans to unfold just as how I have wanted them. Yet, I am reminded that these so called "plans" have never unfolded in the way I've wanted them. If that were the case, things would have looked a lot different at the age of 20. Through the early and late twenties (let's be real and make that my entire 20's), I was frustrated with singleness. Just last week, I was talking with a friend about how thankful I am for those years. There is much that was done and accomplished during those years as a single woman than what could've been done as a wife or mother. I am reminded that His plans are perfect. This moment is perfect. This season is perfect. It is perfect because it is not outside of His will.

"Christ’s life given up for others is the centerpiece of our faith. Our lives given up for others is the centerpiece of our faithfulness. The glory is that, in both cases, death is not the end. Christ has died for us for all time. But the trail he blazed does not end in the grave. He tells us to follow, to imitate him.” Rachel Jankovic    Luke 9:23/Phil 2

This quote reminded me of the crux of the Christian faith - to deny self. So often I want to put myself before others, but I am thankful for the opportunities where God places an opportunity in my path to serve another. We are called to imitate Christ. For that I am thankful, we are called from a life of less self and to a life of more others. This is a walk of faithfulness.

"All along the way we are not asked to understand but simply to obey." Amy Carmichael

This quote is a favorite of mine. I think it pairs nicely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's quote about stepping in faith - "Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase." We won't understand the moments ahead of us, but we are expected to obey the One who is planning them all.